When freedom is legislated, history shows it has the opposite effect – you become free to NOT speak about your beliefs, because we’re all free to not have to hear it. We see what happens in countries where there is no true freedom. I don’t want to see Australia, or Britain or the US, continue heading down the path we are currently. How do we fight for freedom to be able to spread the Kingdom of God with grace, love, mercy?
Prayer, lots of it. God will show us how to fight this battle – for it’s not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers. Get your armour on, it’s time for war ! A war fought with compassion for the lost.
Who would have thought 30 years ago that in 2009 Christians would be persecuted for not endorsing sexual immorality or for suggesting someone pray about their illness, but that is what is happening regularly in Britain and the United States today.
Talk to most Christians in Australia about approaching persecution and they think you have lost your mind. “How could persecution ever happen in a country like Australia?”, they ask.
Violent physical persecution as suffered by many Christians overseas may not be imminent, however spiritual and emotional persecution (emphasis mine) is very near.
Here are some cases where Christians have been vilified, sacked, demoted or harassed simply because they held and expressed Christian morals and/or values. We will have similar stories to tell in Australia unless we wake up to the need to protect our freedoms and liberty which are under constant attack.
- Theresa Davies, who works at Islington Borough Council in London was demoted because she refused to preside over same sex ‘civil partnership’ ceremonies. At issue in this case is, ‘will Christian faith present a bar to Governmental and private sector employment opportunities because of ‘equality’ or anti-discrimination laws’? In a number of recent decisions it has been deemed lawful for an employer to require adherence to an Equal Opportunity Policy that compels people to support sexual conduct they believe is sinful. An appeal against her dismissal has been lodged.
- Gary McFarlane, a relationship counsellor, was sacked because his Christian beliefs prevented him giving sex therapy counselling to homosexual couples.
- A Christian paediatrician was dismissed as a medical adviser because she could not professionally recommend the placement of children with same-sex couples – she was only reinstated after media support and a public outcry.
- A Homelessness Prevention Officer with Wandsworth Council was dismissed from work for encouraging a homeless woman with an incurable medical condition to look to God for help. Doctors told her they’d given up hope.
- Four firefighters in San Diego, California were forced against their objections to ride in a so-called “homosexual pride parade.” For three long hours, they were repeatedly sexually harassed and humiliated by lewd, scantily clad people along the entire parade route. When the firemen complained, they experienced harassment, retaliation, and in one case a denied promotion
This is increasingly happening here in Australia, and as anti-discrimination and vilification laws increase it will become more of a challenge.
A ‘Bill or Charter of Human Rights’ and a possible ‘Freedom of Religion’ Bill here will make that situation even worse, as will greater powers being sought by Equal Opportunity Commissions. Christians who want to uphold Biblical Truth will find themselves more and more marginalised despite our country, like Britain, being founded on freedom of speech, freedom of conscience and freedom of religion.
Source: Saltshakers and American Development Foundation via Australian Prayer Network
